Picking up a new language is not really that easy, but knowing more about the science of learning languages may help you speed up the learning progress.
How we learn language
Learning language is something we’re born to do. As children, we learn to think, learn to communicate and intuitively pick up an understanding of grammar rules in our mother tongue, or native language. From then on, we learn all new languages in relation to the one we first knew—the one that we used to understand the world around us for the first time ever.
Learning a foreign language
When it comes to learning a second language, adults are at a disadvantage. As we age, our brain’s plasticity (its ability to create new neurons and synapses) is reduced. Following brain damage that causes a loss of speech, for instance, researchers have observed that children are more likely to regain the power of speech, by creating new pathways in the brain to replace the damaged ones.
There’s still hope, though. A study of secondary language pronunciation found that some learners who started as adults scored as well as native speakers. It’s also been shown that motivation to learn can improve proficiency, so if you really want to learn a language, it’s not necessarily too late.
Give yourself the best chance
If you want to put in the effort to learn a new language, try these methods that are known for improving learning and memory:
1. Spaced repetition
Spaced repetition is a proven memory technique that helps you keep what you’ve learned strong in your mind. The way it works is you revise each word or phrase you’ve learned in spaced intervals. Initially the intervals will be smaller: you might revise a new word a few times in one practice session, and then again the next day. Once you know it well you’ll be able to leave days or weeks between revisions without forgetting it.
2. Learn before you sleep
One of the many benefits we get from sleep is that it helps to clear out the brain’s “inbox” – the temporary storage of new information and memories from our time awake. We need sleep (even just a nap) to move anything we’ve recently learned into our brain’s long term storage. Once it’s safely stored, spaced repetition will help to strengthen the connection so we can recall the information faster and more accurately.
3. Study content, not the language
Although most language learning classes and progams focus on purely learning the language, a study of high school students studying French found that when they studied another subject taught in French instead of a class purely to teach French, the students tested better for listening and were more motivated to learn. Students in the standard French class scored better on reading and writing tests, so both methods clearly have merit.
Once you’ve mastered the basics of a new language, try including some content on a topic you’re interested in to improve your understanding. You could have conversations with friends learning the same language, read articles online or listen to a podcast to test your comprehension.
4. Practice a little everyday
If you’re busy, you might be tempted to put off your studying and cram in a big chunk of learning once every week or two. However, studying a little every day is actually more effective. Because your brain’s “inbox” has limited space and only sleep can clear it out, you’ll hit the limit of how much you can take in pretty quickly if you study for hours at a time.
5. Mix new and old
The brain craves novelty but attempting to learn lots of new words or phrases at once can be overwhelming. Novel concepts work best when they’re mixed in with familiar information.
When you add new words to your vocabulary, try spacing them in-between words you’re already familiar with so they’ll stand out—your brain will latch onto them more easily.
学一门语言并非一件简单的事，不过多了解学外语的科学或许会进步更快。
我们是怎样学习语言的
学习语言是我们与生俱来的。还是孩子时，我们就学习思考、学习交流，并且本能地掌握母语或本族语的语法。从那时起，我们便学习跟初识有关的任何新语言——正是凭着初识，我们才懂得周围的世界。
学习一门外语
说到学习第二语言，成人总是处于不利地位。随着年龄增长，人类大脑的可塑性（这种能力可产生新的神经元与突触）就会衰退。紧接着大脑损伤便会造成语言能力的丧失。例如，研究人员观察到，儿童更容易获得语言能力，通过在大脑中创造新的途径来取代受损的细胞。
当然希望还是有的，一项有关第二语言发音的研究发现，有些成年学习者一样可以得到跟当地人相同的评分。它也被证明，学习语言的动机能可以提高语言掌握的熟悉度，所以如果你真的想学习一种语言，任何时候都不是太晚。
给你自己最好的机会
如果你想努力学习一门新语言，那就试试下面这些方法吧，这些方法可以在学习和记忆方面帮到你：
1. 间隔重复
间隔重复是一个经过实证的记忆技巧，有助于将学过的知识牢牢记在大脑里。它的具体方式就是你每隔一段时间就复习学过的每个单词或词组。刚开始间隔时间比较短：你可能需要在某个练习阶段复习好几次生词，然后第二天再重复。一旦熟悉以后，你可以几天或者几个星期再复习一下，这样依旧可以记得清清楚楚。
2. 在你睡前学些
我们从睡眠中得到的许多好处之一是，它有助于清除大脑的“收件箱” — 也就是在我们清醒时临时储蓄的一些新信息和记忆。我们需要睡觉（即使只是打盹）来把我们新学习到的所有东西转变成大脑里的长期储存。一旦它安全的储存了，间隔重复将有助于加强连接，这样我们就可以更快更准确的记住信息了。
3. 学习内容，而不是语言
虽然大多数的语言学习课程和项目专注于纯粹的语言学习，一项高中生学习法语的研究发现，如果学生只是学习用法语教学的课程，而不是纯粹的法语课，那么学生的法语听力成绩会跟出色，而且他们也会积极的学习。不过，标准法语班的学生在阅读和写作测试中会有更好的成绩，因此这两种方法都有可取之处。
一旦你掌握了一个新的语言的基本知识，可以尝试了解自己关心的内容和主题，那样能提高你的理解能力。你可以和跟你学习同样一门语言的朋友沟通，阅读网络文章或者听播客来测试你的理解能力。
4. 每天练习一点点
如果你很忙，可能会推迟你的学习，然后用死记硬背的方式每隔一到两个星期学习一次。然而，每天学习一点点实际上会更有效。因为你大脑的”收件箱“储存量是有限的，只有在睡觉的时候才会清除，如果你在一段时间里学习几个小时，你会达到一个非常快的达到你能接受的极限。
5. 新旧混合
大脑渴望新鲜知识，但是一次性学习太多的新词和短语会让它超负荷。当它们与熟悉的信息混合在一起时，才能更好的掌握新知识。
当你在你的词汇表中添加新的单词时，试着把你已经熟悉的单词跟它们区分开来 — 这样你的大脑会更容易记住这些生词。